MadaboutKitcars

For me the journey started at home on the Wednesday when I needed to gather allt he equipment and stuff I would need for 6 days and 5 nights away from home camping in the wilds of France.

20160706_100017 by WCA!, on Flickr

Once that was sorted I loaded the car ready for the drive to Folkestone where I was staying overnight so I could catch an early train to ensure a relaxed drive across France the next day. The sun was shining, the roof was down and the journey started for real.

20160706_153635 by WCA!, on Flickr

I arrived at the rather impressive looking Grand Burstin Hotel.

20160706_192537 by WCA!, on Flickr

It certainly appeared to be good value for just £43 including breakfast, right up until the moment I got to my room. This redefined the terms small and basic to a whole new level but it was a bed and I slept there.

20160706_191857 by WCA!, on Flickr

I woke early and in anticipation of a quick rail trip and a day cruising to Le Mans looking at the pretty cars. Little did I know...

I joined all the right queues, checking in as normal, cleared customers and was just being loaded onto the train when...

the engine suddenly sounded strange, wouldn't rev and then died completely.

20160707_103652 by WCA!, on Flickr

The man in the van could offer a screwdriver and an 8mm or 10mm socket from his extensive tool kit. As he explained he only normally dealt with flat batteries. I swore to myself a bit as I watched the next train leave with lots of people giving my the thumbs up. Well I am glad they were happy.

20160707_111927 by WCA!, on Flickr

Eventually the man in the van returned and said I couldn't remain where I was and he would tow me away. unfortunately because I had removed the front crash structure from the car when fitting the SWB nose there was nowhere to attach a rope so I got a nice ride on the back of a truck.

20160707_114548 by WCA!, on Flickr

Did they take me to a workshop? No. Did they take me to a local garage? No. They took me to the petrol station just outside of the terminal and dumped me in the layby. They did say that if I got it fixed I could call them and they would escort me back through customs etc.

At least I was now able to work on the car without the applause from the quese of people going onto the train. I got out my extensive tool kit and rang the RAC.

20160707_133423 by WCA!, on Flickr

The RAC man actually seemed to look forward to the challenge of fixing my car as he said it would be a 'challenge'. I am not sure that was the words he used nearly 4 hours later when he had fixed it.
20160707_133737 by WCA!, on Flickr

And the cause of the breakdown?

A broken zip tie!

When I fitted the revised air intake system I discovered during the first test drive that at full throttle the throttle cable caught against a bit of the plumbing and locked open. I pulled over and used a zip tie to pull the plumbing away from the throttle. This was just a 'get me home' fix obviously. I also didn't bother to do anything about it once it had got me home and so it chose this moment to snap causing the air inlet plumbing come loose and the engine to die.

20160707_140325 by WCA!, on Flickr

Finally fixed and on the 4:30pm train!!!

20160707_144513 by WCA!, on Flickr

Now I arrived in France about 7 hours behind schedule. I would need to make up some time. If only I could find a few cars to tag along with.

As luck would have it there were four friends leaving the petrol station as I drove past and they welcomed me into their convoy. It is safe to say that with these guys I was making good progress.

20160707_173117 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160707_173126 by WCA!, on Flickr

Riught up to the point we hit a 25km tailback caused by a truck crossing the central reservation and closing the A28 in both directions for the afternoon. By the time we had joined the queue the worse of it was over. I 'only' spent 1 hour with the ignition turned off and 1 hour crawling along passed a road sweeper cleaning the glass and diesel off the road. I arrived at the campsite tired and relieved at 11:30pm.

20160707_180803 by WCA!, on Flickr

I woke up in a mood of eagar anticipation for the three days of the event now lay ahead. To be honest the three days kind of blurred together so I may get the order of events wrong but it really doen't matter too much.

20160709_121120 by WCA!, on Flickr

So rather than text here are photos in no particular order. Slightly lax security gives good access to the pits and paddocks, kids racing 100cc cars, marching bands, owners clubs by the mile, view along the start finish straight, classic Le Mans start, cars grouped by age rather than type gave interest to the races...

20160710_162054 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_154004 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_154539 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_141737 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_154028 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_160003 by WCA!, on Flickr
mixedrace by WCA!, on Flickr



A full set of the photos are here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/albums/72157670689646675

Sometimes I have the ability to make doors fall open and give me access to privileged areas with really close up views of the track side pits
20160709_174054 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_165206 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_171041 by WCA!, on Flickr
20160709_173702 by WCA!, on Flickr

The Masterati qualified 3rd but needed help to get it off the line
20160709_173748 by WCA!, on Flickr

Finally it was time to pack up and go home leaving the campsite for a comfortable bed seemed a nice idea. I even managed to get everything back into the car nice and neatly. Well almost...

20160711_085144 by WCA!, on Flickr

If you were wondering what the silver thing in the passenger seat is, it is memorabelia. Each team in the pits was given a branded oil drip tray. There was only one per team and these were not available for love nor money to the general public so I cannot reveal exactly how it ended up in my possession.

20160712_103043 by WCA!, on Flickr

I was really tempted by your spare seat offer Nick but your adventure to get there would not have been fun
The pics look like you had a great time.
I kept looking at the 300s thinking - it looks better than I remember. I got it your back to long nose configuration.

Maybe we can get a few more together for your next adventure.

Theres lots to choose from Spa , Monaco etc

Sounds as if you had a good time, shame about the breakdown. You might as well give that drip tray to me, BMW's don't drip oil
If you haven't done classic Spa I would suggest that, been to Le Mans quite a few times but just got to crowded, Spa is how Le Mans used to be. It's great because if you're in a Classic car you just drive straight into a reserved car park plus it's about a third of the price of Le Mans for the weekend

Andy

Gas - I was thinking of something similar.

Classic cars will have the same cars each year, they are not making new ones.

What varies is the event itself. I Might even try a Spa trip next year. Two days, one night, you built it so you can mend it, drive it like it is stolen, just an idea...

A great weekend as ever. Some of the regulars I go with couldn't make it this year so the usual group of six or seven was down to just three people.
The trip down was a bit of a pain , the M25 being closed meant I missed my crossing so I missed WCA only to catch up with him only the tunnel loading ramp ! A quick introduction and we decided I would carry on and WCA would catch up later. Only a few miles into the French motorway drive and everything stopped , for 3 HOURS !! I got stuck in the accident just after it happened , so I arrived late on the campsite only 30 minutes in front of WCA ! Met up with Bob , a LeMans veteran and good time was had by all.
Went to see the Ferrari 250 SWB being auctioned off at the track ( didn't meet the reserve ).
Walked around for hours checking out all the Classics on site , the stalls and got to see some racing. Bumped in to Richard from Nubodi and had a chat.
The swimming pool at the campsite was very welcome at the end of each day as it was 27 degrees the whole time , we all got burn't but I was on holiday so I was getting my moneys worth !

Great time was had by all and hope to do it again in a year or two.

What a fantastic place to visit for a Petrolhead!
Travelled down with a Nissan 260z convertible, Ferrari Monza rep, Jaguar D type rep and Ferrari 355 rep. F40 did not make it as a hose blew.
Made many new friends...already planning a LeMans reunion!
It was great meeting up with you Nick and Lucky and Bob.
I also met up with some customers, Kevin (Koupe), Peter (DNA 2fifty california) and Christian from the Ferrari owners club.
Four nights without any sleep though as our TeePee was next to the track!
Heres some of my photos

On Chunnel

At campsite



On route

Real one at the station waiting to go across

Worlds best coffee table for sale in the circuit

That coffee table was stunning ! I didn't ask how much as I knew I couldn't afford it ! If I can find an old radial engine I'll make my own though.

Great pictures,

Thanks for sharing both Nick and Richard.

I noticed the real 250 has no roof vent, a smaller rear window , and 3 vents in the wings, along with the fuel filler in the boot.

So this would be an earlier car then ?

I think this is the look the customer is going for on the car that Gary is working on at the moment.

Stunning pictures, all of them.

This pic for me really captures the atmosphere of such a trip, just wonderful!

The sound of three cars in our compartment all with straight through pipes was amazing. Every tunnel on the route down was great fun seeing who could make the most noise. Wonderfully childish behavior.

It was my first time at Le Mans and on the channel tunnel. Neither will be the last. Back to work now, many commissions to build.

As Jeff says great pics - knew you'd like it. Haven't been for 4 years now and wish I'd found time somehow.

For everyone who enjoyed this I'd urge you to look at the Spa Classic - very similar grid and track access is much better in terms of getting into vantage points you probably shouldn't be able to *ahem*.

Lots of collapsible ladders going up against the fencing with photographers hanging over the track virtually as well - plus the pit area - expect to be asked to hold a spanner, give a push, whatever!

Also consider Circuit Remperts D'Angeloumes - fantastic street circuit. It's a long drive - we broke it into 2 days stopping over at a Chateau just outside Le Mans but well worth it. plus take in the Oradour-sur-Glane, the Village of the Martyrs on return journey (something that everyone really should witness)

http://www.circuit-des-remparts.com/index-id_page-1-lang-uk.html

The people I went with were saying they were not going to go to Le Mans Classic next time as it is dwindling in attendance and interest compared to previous years. It seemed pretty awesome to me but I had nothing to judge it by.
They all said that Spa was much better so its already in my calendar for next year.
Im going to Goodwood revival and Silverstone Classic so lots to look forward to.

it is dwindling in attendance - 2016 was record attendance

I think it is not the kind of event you would go to every time though. I absolutely loved it but I get the feeling that it feel a bit 'same-y' if I went again.

To me the atmosphere and novelty of new places would probably be a bigger draw. Possibly Spa next year then...

I did a 6 hour race at Spa some years ago. It was a "work" trip and we ended up swopping out an engine on a BMW M3 mid race !

I think its a bit closer then LeMans , seem to remember it was around 6 hours door to door rather than 9 hours.

Looks like a great trip and some brilliant photos too.